Sheet or signature delivery mechanism



Jan. 23, 1934. E. R. KAST SHEET OR SIGNATURE DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3nventor W g. Jiwir Wu, Mm vv Littomeg Jan. 23, 1934. K T

SHEET OR SIGNATURE DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Isnventor @WN M N wmvN.

W M. W, Mmv/cuibm Quor-negs Jan. 23, 1934. R sT 1,944,712

SHEET OR SIGNATURE DELIVERY MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 3nveutor u WW, Wa/WW- Gttorneg Patented Jan. 23, 1934 SHEET R SIGNATURE DELIVERY MECHANISIVI Edward R. Kast, Pearl River, N. Y., assignor to Dexter Folder Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application August 5, 1929. Serial No. 383,576

16 Claims.

' This invention relates to signature assembling and stitching machines, and more particularly to the delivery mechanism thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with improved delivery mechanism which eliminates the possibility of damage to the signatures when they are introduced between the delivery rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with improved delivery mechanism which enables the signatures to be introduced freely between the delivery rolls in order to avoid excessive frictional action of the latter on the signatures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with improved delivery mechanism which enables the signatures to be securely gripped and fed by the delivery rolls after the former have been introduced freely between the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with improved delivery mechanism which eliminates the necessity for forcing the delivery rolls apart to an ap- Lpreciable degree when the signatures are intro- .duced between said rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character with improved delivery mechanism that enables the rolls thereof ;to be adjusted and set indifferent positions to feed and deliver assembled and stitched signatures varying in thickness or number of pages.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved delivery mechanism adapted for general use in the trade and having'rolls constructed to facilitate the introduction of sheets or signatures therebetween and insure positive gripping and feeding of said sheets or signatures by said rolls.

"Anoi'her object of the invention is to provide improved sheet or signature feeding rolls having surfaces shaped to freely receive the sheet or signature therebetween and other surfaces shaped to positively grip and feed said sheet or signature.

This invention is particularly useful in delivering magazines such as the Saturday Evening Post, having covers and outer signatures made up of printed sheets which have been paraffined or waxed to prevent offsetting. Heretofore in the delivery of such magazines the cover would fre- "quently be stripped from the same. Accordingly, v{another object of the invention is to provide an improved delivery mechanism which, when em ployed to deliver magazines such as above referred to, prevents stripping of the covers and outer signatures from said magazines.

These and other objects of the invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds, and in order to more clearly understand said invention, reference may be had to the ap pended drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the inventive idea. In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a signature-'insettin and stitching machine equipped with delivery mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the delivery rolls in position to receive an inset stitched signature therebetween;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing'the delivery rolls in position to grip and feed the signature therebetween;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the delivery mechanism and associated parts of the signature insetting and stitching machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view, with parts omitted, of the delivery mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of roller adjusting means shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Referring to thedrawings, wherein like refer,-

which is indicated at 6 (Fig. 1).

Each of these supports is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the base or foundation 8 of the machine, and,

the inset and stitched signatures 9 are advanced successively along the saddle 5 to the delivery mechanism, by a series of rocking and reciprocating fingers that are constructed and operated as disclosed in my patent above referred to. One of these fingers is indicatedat 10 (Fig. 1), and said fingers are operated by-suitable connections therefor with the main driving shaft 11 (Fig. 4)

of the machine.

The main drive shaft 11, which may be driven from any suitable source of power, is journaled in suitable bearings on the machine framework andcarries a gear 12.

The gear 12 meshes with and 5).

a gear 13 that is fixed on a shaft 14 also journaled in suitable bearings on the machine framework. Rigidly secured on the shaft 14 is a bevel gear 15 that meshes with a similar gear 16 which is fixed on a shaft 17 extending transversely of the machine and journaled in suitable bearings on the framework thereof. This shaft 17 has fixed thereon a gear 18 which meshes with a gear 19 that is rigidly secured on a shaft 20. This shaft 20 extends transversely of the machine in parallel relation with the shaft 17 and is journaled in suitable bearings on the machine framework. The feeding fingers 10 are lowered, advanced, raised and retracted in a substantially continuous manner, to advance the signatures 9 along the saddle 5 to the delivery mechanism.

The aforesaid movements of these fingers are obtained by mechanism such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,644,192, above referred to. It is therefore unnecessary to describe the operating "mechanism for said fingers in detail. It might be mentioned, however, that raising and lowering movements of the fingers are obtained byasquared rockshaft 21 (Fig. 1) on which the fingers are mounted. This rockshaft has fixed on one end thereof an arm 22 that is connected with a rod '23 operated at suitable intervals by a cam (not shown) to rock the shaft 21 and lower and raise the fingers 10. Advancing and retracting movements of said fingers are obtained by sleeves 24 that carry the fingers and are slidably mounted on the squared rod 21. Said sleeves and said fingers are reciprocated along the rod 21 by connections (not shown) between the sleeves and a rod 25 (Fig. 4). This rod 25 is pivotally connected at 26 with a crank disk 27 that is fixed on the driven shaft 20 above referred to.

Each signature 9 advanced along the saddle 5 to the delivery mechanism, passes over an opening 28 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the top of said saddle. A knife 29 provided with spaced fingers 30, then moves upwardly through said opening between the two halves of the signature so that the fingers 30 engage the signature at the fold line thereof and introduce said signature freely into the delivery mechanism as hereinafter described. The knife 30 is preferably operated by connections therefor withthe shaft 17. For this purpose, the shaft 17 has fixed thereon a bevel gear 31 that meshes with a similar gear 32 which is fixed on 'a shaft 33 extending longitudinally of the machine and journaled in suitable bearings on the framework thereof (Fig. 4). Fixed on the shaft 33 is a cam 34 which, duringits rotation, engages a roller 35 that is journaled on a link 36 (Figs. 1 This link 36 is provided at one end with a fork 37 which is engaged over the shaft 33, the opposite ends of said link being pivotally connected at 38 with an arm 39 that is fixed on one extremity of a stub shaft 40.

This stub shaft 40 is journaled in a suitable bearing on the foundation 8, and said stub shaft has fixed thereon a second arm 41 which forms an angle of approximately 90 with the arm 39.

The shaft 40 is thus rocked through the described connections therefor with the cam '34, and in order to insure such movement of said shaft, the

-- roller '35 is maintained in constant engagement with the cam 34 by a spring 42. V This spring 42 is mounted on a rod 43 having one end connected with the arm 39 and an opposite end exbetween the arm 39 and said bracket, and thus acts to maintain the roller 35 in engagement with the cam 34, as aforesaid.

Pivotally connected, as at 45, with the free end of the arm 41, is one extremity of a link 46. l

The opposite extremity of said link is pivotally connected'as at 4'7, with alug 48 secured to or formed integrally with a horizontally extending bracket 49. This bracket has bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, as at 50, 50 the knife 29, and said bracket is provided with slides 51 arranged for reciprocating movement in guides 52 formed on brackets 63 that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the foundation 8.

It will thus appear, that the knife 29, through the described connections therefor with the cam 34, is moved in opposite directions through the opening 28 in saddle 5 during the operation of the machine. This movement of the knife is so timed with respect to the signature feeding fingers 10 that when the latter advance a signature over the opening 28, the knife is lifted therethrough into the signature between the spread apart halves thereof and introduces it into the delivery mechanism. This delivery mechanism is preferably operated and constructed as follows.

Fixed on the shaft 33 is a sprocket 54 around which passes a chain 55. This chain 55 also passes around sprockets 56, 5'7, 58, 59 that are naled in suitable bearings provided by blocks 66 that are slidably mounted on the machine framework. For this purpose, the upper and lower sides of said blocks are provided with grooves 67 and 68, respectively, the grooves 68 engaging suitable guides formed on the tops of the frames 61,

62, and the grooves 67 engaging similar guides" formed on the bottom of frames 69, 70 that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured on the frames 61, 62 at the tops thereof.

The delivery rollers 65 each comprise a hollow unitary structure having a conical end 71' and an intermediate groove 72. Grooves 72 of the rollers 65 allow clearance for the fingers 30 of the knife 29 when the same is moved into and out of said rolls. Each roller 65 is further provided at one end thereof with a reduced portion 73 having a suitable threaded opening for a set screw '74 which acts to secure the roller on the shaft that carries the same. The chain 55 passes over the sprocket 57 and under the sprocket 58 so that the rollers 65 are driven in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5.

In accordance with the present invention, the rollers 65 are each provided at corresponding points thereon, with surfaces 75 that are preferably made fiat for introduction of the folded and stitched backs of the signatures freely between the rollers by the knife 29, the operating mechanisms for said rollers and said knife being so timed with respect to each other, that the fiat, and preferably angularly related, surfaces 75 of the rollers will be rotated into opposed and preferably angular relation at the instant the knife 29 introduces the signature between said rollers. Thereafter, the knife is moved down- Wardly yond the rollers and thesignature 15550 gripped clear of its back portion by and between the curved surfaces '76 of said rollers which then deliver the signature from the machine as hereinafter described.

The signature or book, as herein shown, is initially gripped by the rollers 65, below or to one side of the fold line at the back of said signature or book (Fig. 3). A positive gripping and feeding action of the rollers on the signature or book is thus obtained, preventing slippage between the signatures and between the latter and the rollers, and insuring against stripping of the covers or outer signatures from the book.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided for holding the rollers 65 apart when the flat surfaces thereof are rotated into opposed relation, and for adjusting and setting the rollers 65 in various positions to accommodate signatures varying in thickness or number of pages. Said means preferably comprise the following devices. On each of the frames 61, 62, are mounted a pair of brackets '77 having openings therein through which projects a pair of oppositely threaded screws 78 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6).

The inner, opposed ends of each pair of screws 78 are received in oppositely threaded openings formed in a knurled nut '79 that is retained between the brackets 77 and extends into a recess 80 formed in the frame thereover. The outer ends of the screws 78 bear against bosses 81 that project from the inner, opposed ends of the blocks 66. The outer ends of the blocks 66 are provided with bosses 82 in which are'secured, as at 83,- the inner extremities of rods 84. The outer extremities of the rods 84 pass freely through suitable openings formed in brackets 85 that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the frames 61, 62 at the tops thereof. Mounted on the rods 84 between the bosses 82 and the brackets 85, are springs 86 that act to move the rollers 65 and the blocks 66 toward each other, thus maintaining the bosses 81 of the latter in engagement with the outer ends of the screws 78, and preventing rotation of said screws in the nuts 79 when the latter are turned.

It will appear, from the foregoing, that when the nuts 79 are turned in one direction, the screws '78 will be moved apart, thus forcing the blocks 66 and the rollers 65 away from each other and further compressing the springs 86. When the nuts '79 are turned in the opposite direction, the screws 78 are moved toward each other and the springs 86 move the rollers 65 and the blocks 66 toward each other and maintain the bosses 81 in engagement with the ends of the screws 79. The rollers 65 can thus be'adjusted toward or away from each other and retained in any desired position of adjustment, in order to accommodate signatures varying in thickness or number of pages. Moreover, the screws 78 prevent the springs 86 from forcing the fiat surfaces 75 of the rollers together, thus insuring that said surfaces will be properly spaced to freely receive the signatures therebetween, as previously described.

It will of course be understood that the described adjustments of the rollers '65 are relatively small and only compensate for variations inthickness or number of sheets of different sizes of signatures handled in the machine. In the event of a jam in the delivery mechanism, however, it is desirable to provide some means for quickly separating the rolls a sufficient distance to have access to the jammed signature or other source of trouble in the delivery mechanism. For this purpose, the rollers 65 may be separated by means preferably constructed and operated as follows. a

Journaled in suitable bearings on the frames 69, '70, is a rockshaft 87. Fixed on the rockshaft 8'7 are operating handles 88 and arms v89. The

arms 89 are pivotally connected at 90 with links 91 that are provided with bosses 92 loosely mounted on the shaft 57'. When either of theoperating handles 88 is moved to the left (Fig. 1), the roller on the shaft 57' will be separated from the roller on shaft 58 so that access may be had to the jammedsignature or other source of difiiculty in the delivery mechanism. As soon as the trouble has been remedied, the operatinghandle is released so that the roller moved thereby/is returned to its normal positionthrough the action of the springs 86 cooperatingtherewithh As each signature is delivered by the roller 65, 1

it engages a switch 93. This switch 93 is set automatically to deflect defective books or signatures across supports 94 and onto a table 95. Said supports and said table are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the framework of the machine. The switch 93 is mounted on a rockshaft .96 that is journaled in suitable bearings on the frames ,69, 70. Fixed on the rock-shaft 96 is an arm 9'7, the free end of which is connected with one extremity of a link 98. The opposite extremity of said link is pivotally connected with arm 99 that is mounted on a shaft 100 journaled in suitable bearings on the frames The shaft 100 is controlled automatically by any suitable means, and acts through the connections therefor with the switch 93,'to throw said switch to the right when a defective book is delivered and to throw the switch to the left when a perfect book is delivered. The perfect books are delivered over supporting fingers 101 that are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the machine framework. Each book passes over the supporting fingers 101 and is delivered between a feed roller 102 and drop rollers 103. The feed roller 102 is mounted on a shaft 104 that is journaled in suitable bearings on the frames 69, '70. Fixed on the shaft 104 is a gear 105 that meshes with an idler gear 106 that is journaled on an arm 107 carried by the shaft 58' and through which the latter loosely extends. The idler gear 106 meshes with a gear 108 that-is fixed on the shaft 58'. It will thus appear that the feed roller 102 is driven through the described connections therefor with the deliver roller shaft 58. p x I The drop rollers 103 are journaled on arms 109 that are fixed on a rockshaft 110 journaled in suitable bearings on the frames 69, '70. Fixed on the rockshaft 110 is an arm 111, the freeend-of which is pivotally connected with a link 112. The opposite extremity of the link 112 is provided with a fork 113 that is engaged over a cam shaft 115. This cam shaft is journaled in suitable bearings on the machine foundation 8 and said shaft has fixed thereon a bevel gear 116 that meshes with a similargear 117 which is fixed on the shaft 20 and acts with the gear 116 to drive the shaft 115. Journaled on the fork 113 is a roller 118 that engages in a groove 119 of a closed cam 120 that is fixed on the shaft 115. It will thus appear that-the drop rollers 103 are operated-by the described connections therefor with the cam 120. This cam is timed to lower said rollers as each signature is delivered between the same and thefeed roller 102. Thereafter the drop rollers are raised and the signature is carried mounted at 133 on the table 126.

out of the machine by conveyor belts 121 of a stacker or the like.

The belts 121 of the stacker just referred to, passv around pulleys 122 and 123. The pulleys 122 are fixed on a shaft 124 that is journaled in suitable bearings on the frames 61, 62. The pulleys 123 are fixed on a shaft 125 that is journaled in suitable bearings on a table 126. This table is supported at one end by standards 127 that are made in two parts adjustably connected together at 128 and providing for adjustment of said end of the table as desired. The other or inner end of the table is provided with brackets 129 that are loosely mounted on the shaft 124 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The belts 121 pass around an idler roller 130 that is journaled in suitable bearings on the table 126v at the under side there- Said belts also pass around tension rollers 131 that are carried on arms 132 adjustably The packer comprised by the belts 121 is driven from the cam shaft 115 by any suitable means for this purpose such as a link 134 which is cam actuated from the shaft 115 and pivotally connected with a swinging arm 135 that is mounted onthe shaft 125. The arm 135 carries a pawl 136 which, as the arm 135 is rocked back and forth by the link 134, engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel 13'? that is fixed on the shaft 125. The ratchet wheel 137 is thus operated intermittently by the pawl 136 so that the belts 121 are moved step by step as the signatures are delivered thereon by the rollers 65.

In delivering books or magazines'such as the Saturday Evening Post by former constructions, the covers were frequently stripped from the books. The present invention obviates that contingency and delivers the books or magazines without injury or defacement.

It will appear from the foregoing that the delivery mechanism of the present invention enables the books or signatures to be freely introduced therein, thus avoiding the possibility of damage to the books or signatures by excessive frictional action of the delivery rollers thereon. Moreover, delivery mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention avoids the "necessity for having to force the folders apart the rollers on the books or signatures to deliver them in the manner previously described. It will further be appreciated that the adjustment'for the delivery rollers provided by the present invention, enables books or signatures of various sizes to be handled in the mechanism and thus increases the efiiciency of the machine as a whole.

While one embodiment of the invention is disclosed herein with more or less particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited to said embodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers each provided at corresponding points thereon with angularly related flattened surfaces, an element for introducing a signature between angularly related flattened the signature at one side of its fold line after ducing the signature between the delivery rollers,

and means. for operating said element timedto move it so that the signature is introduced be tween the rollers when flattened surfaces there.- of are rotated into opposed angular relation.

3.-In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers each provided .at corresponding points thereon with angularly related flattened surfaces, means normally urging the rollers together, means holding said rollersapart when the angularly related surfaces thereof are rotated into opposed relation and providing for relative adjustment of the rollers, an element for introducing a signature between flattened surfaces of said rollers when said surfaces are rotated into opposed angular relation, and means for operating the rollers and said element in timed relation so that the rollers grip the signature at one side of its back or fold line after said. signature has been introduced between the angularly related flattened surfaces of the rollers respectively.

4. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers each provided withangularly related flattened surfaces, means normally urging the rollers toward each other, means for rotating said rollers in opposite directions, and means for holding the rollers apart, when their angularly related flattened surfaces are rotated into opposed relation.

5. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers each provided with a curved signature gripping surface-and angularly related flattened portions between which the signature is inserted to be thereafter gripped at one side of the folded portion of the book or signature by the curved surfaces of said rollers.

6. In a machine of the character described, a pair of driven delivery rollers yieldably urged toward each other and provided with flattened surfaces rotatable into opposed angular relation to receive a sheet or signature. therebetween, and

adjusting means for said rollers interposed therebetween and holding them apart when their fiattened surfaces are rotated into opposed relation.

'7. In a machine of the character described,

mined relation, said last named means being. the

adapted to force'the rollers apart against action of said yieldable means.

8'. In a machine of the character described, a

pair of delivery rollers, slidably mounted bearings therefor, yieldable means between which'the bearings are mounted and tending to force. the bearings and said rollers together, and means interposed between said bearings normally maintaining the rollers in predetermined position and adapted to move them apart against the action of said yieldable means. s:-

9'. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers, means for adjusting said rollers toward and away from each 'dth'er'and including devices adapted to automatically maintain said rollers in the desired position of adjustment, and manually operated means for moving one of the rollers relative to the other independently of said first named means.

10. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers each having angularly related fiat surfaces enabling a previously folded edge portion of a signature to be introduced between said rollers freely thereof, a device movable into the signature and adapted to introduce said folded edge portion into the rollers between angularly related fiat surfaces thereof, and mechanism for driving the rollers and operating said device in timed relation such that said rollers grip the signature free of its folded edge portion and deliver said signature without stripping the outermost folded sheet or sheets therefrom.

11. In a machine of the character described, a pair of delivery rollers having flat surfaces enabling the back portion of a previously formed inset stitched signature to be introduced between said rollers freely thereof, a support below the delivery rollers adapted to hold the inset stitched signature with the halves thereof spread apart and the back of the signature disposed upwardly, a device movable through the support into the signature between the halves thereof and adapted to introduce its back portion upwardly into the delivery rollers between the fiat surfaces thereof, and mechanism for driving the rollers and operating the device in timed relation such that said rollers grip the signature free of its back portion and deliver said signature without stripping the outermost folded sheet or sheets therefrom.

12. In combination, a pair of relatively yieldable rollers having flattened surfaces thereon, mechanism for driving the rollers, and means independent of said mechanism interposed between said rollers and adapted to hold them apart when their flattened surfaces are rotated into opposed relation.

ers are mounted and normally urging them toa ward each other, and devices for limiting movement of the rollers toward each other and interposed therebetween to hold them apart when their flat surfaces are rotated into opposed re lation.

15. In combination, a pair of driven rollers having flat surfaces thereon rotated at intervals into opposed relation during rotation of said rollers, slidably mounted bearings for the rollers, yieldable means between which the bearings are mounted and normally urging the bearings and the rollers toward each other respectively, and means interposed between the bearings holding said bearings and the rollers apart when the fiat surfaces of the latter are rotated into opposed relation.

16. In combination, a pair of driven rollers having flat surfaces thereon rotated'at intervals into opposed relation during rotation of said rollers, means between which the rollers are mount ed and normally urging them toward each other, devices interposed between the rollers and holding them apart when their flat surfaces are rotated into opposed relation, and means for shifting one roller relative to the other independently of said devices.

EDWARD R. KAST. 

